RESA is continuously working to bring local chapters near you. These are the newest RESA Local Chapters that have launched thus far in 2016. Check out the RESA Chapter Finder to see all of RESA’s local chapters.

If you are interested in starting a local chapter in your area, email: Gina@RESA-hq.org

RESA® is starting new chapters throughout the US and Canada! Being involved with a chapter of RESA® is not only beneficial to the growth and direction of the staging industry, but also beneficial to growing your own business and elevating you to a new level of respect within your local real estate community.

The goals of a chapter are to provide educational resources and peer-to-peer business support, while also educating the community about the benefits of home staging. Local chapters are involved in charitable activities that bring awareness to home staging on the local level and will help grow your personal businesses.

One of our recent RESA Kick Off Meetings which had a great turn out was held in Columbus, OH which was held on February 5, 2016. There was a great turnout and they are wrapping up the election process for their new board.

Stagers gather for the Columbus, OH RESA Chapter Kick Off Meeting

RESA HQ is excited to see the overwhelming interest in launching new chapters and if you are interested in starting a local chapter in your area or have general questions, please contact Gina Vierra, VP of Operation at RESA-HQ via email: Gina@RESA-HQ.org or by phone (888) 201-8687.

RESAMass has been very busy recently!… In January, we were named ‘Chapter of the Year‘ at RESACON, Las Vegas! We are proud to be the recipients of this prestigious award and look forward to all that this new year promises to bring!

February had us gathering at our monthly meeting where, in conjunction with their 150th Anniversary, we were joined by guest speaker, Heather Bourgeois of Sherwin Williams as they revealed 194 new colors, a whole new fan deck, a new tool system and exciting products for 2016. RESA Members get an exclusive 25% discount at Sherwin Williams stores. *Members must be logged in to the RESA website to access this exclusive discount savings card.

March has us hosting Agents On Stage! our 5th annual realtor panel for an opportunity to network with several local real estate industry professionals and to discuss how staging their listings will give them an advantage.

RESA Stager Angela Gill of Practical Staging Solutions relayed a story about her invitation by CSP (Certified Staging Professionals) to attend days 2 and 3 of their training course as an Alumni member. During the course, the house that was to be available to the students for their practical staging day was no longer available, but a much larger, partly furnished house was offered—with no accessories. So Angela sprung into action—going ‘beyond the call of duty’. She quickly hit the local stores and soon added ‘new stuff’ to her current inventory. By 11:00 pm that night she had packed her car up to the roof with accessories and items and truly saved the day for the students. Fantastic Angela! In her own words—here’s her story:

#RESAmass worked on a single family, handicap accessible home for the Santiago Family, at 95 Friendship St Billerica.

Women Build, empowers women to participate in Habitat for Humanity’s work by teaching new skills in a non-competitive, inclusive environment of cooperation, partnership and fun. Click Here to see the more pictures of this great event.

One of the best ways to bring legitimacy to staging is for your chapter to sponsor an event or attend a trade show or event.

Sponsoring an Event:

Find an educational event to bring to the local Real Estate Community. It could be taught by Mortgage Lenders, Tax professionals, or even better get on trend with the Green Movement. Chapters can offer to sponsor the event by arranging for the venue to hold the event and to help market the event.

Market the event by having each chapter member send information to their personal databases and important clients. Not only does this help market the actual event, this markets YOU the stager and your chapter. This “backdoor” marketing is the number one non evasive marketing technique available. You keep your business name in front of your clients by marketing something of interest to your clients. Smart!

Attending an Event:

Co-Op an event with members in your chapter. Realtor trade shows are a great place to do this. Design the booth around the RESA Chapter and divide up “shifts” to work for the members that paid to be there. Be sure to put out everyone’s business cards all in a row on the booth table, so people passing by can take one.

Etiquette Tips!:

Don’t be pushy

Don’t take too much time with passer buyers

Speak about staging in general and NOT your own personal company

Offer your card and also point out other members cards

Remember “non evasive” marketing SELLS so YOU don’t have to! If you come off too pushy or too one sided towards yourself it doesn’t reflect well on you as a business person.